Hasp-fastener.



No.-704,4|3. v Patented July 8, |902.

A. L. WESTON.

HASP FASTENER.-

(Application led Jan. 31, 1902.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ASA L. ESTON, OF DOVER, OHIO.

HASP-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION fo; n ing part of Letters Patent No. 704,413, dated July 8, 1902.

Application led January 3l, 1902. Serial No. 91,948. (No model.) l

To all whom, it ntwy concern:

Be it known that I, ASA L. WESTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Dover, county of Cuyahoga, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in I-lasp-Fasteners, of which l hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in hasp-and-staple fastenings for crates, boxes, doors, or for any situation where a padlock would be most conveniently employed in connection therewith, and is particularly adapted to use with mail-boxes on rural free-delivery routes, where the carrier is obliged to open each box to deposit mail. To accomplish this easily, it is essential that as soon as the padlock has been removed the cover should lift easily without anything to interrupt its free movement.

Heretofore it has been found that the usual form of hinged hasp required that the hasp should be lifted away from the staple before the lid could be raised. This required two movements, one to lift the hasp from the staple and another to lift the cover, `and if the hinge on the hasp was loose the hasp would not stay up and the use of both hands was required to open the box and also to close the box. My improved device avoids all diflicultiesof this kind and if unlocked can be opened with the same hand that deposits the mail in the box and with only one movement of the arm.

The invention consists in the form of hasp as hereinafter described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and specifically pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure l shows a perspective view of a mail-box provided with my improved hasp and staple. Fig. 2 is a full-sized section taken transversely through the box` and cover, showing a side view of the hasp and staple. Fig. 3 is a front view of the same. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the box, showing a weather-protector on the front of the lid over the hasp, by means of which also the lid can be raised.

In the views, 1 is the box; 2, the cover; 3, the staple riveted to the front of the box and to inclosing plates 4, the rivets being shown as integral portions of the staple.

5 is the hasp, which is shown riveted with integral rivets to the inside of the depending edge of the cover. Here an exterior plate 6 is employed to strengthen this edge. In this hasp the loop 7 instead of merely extending in a straight line over the staple and inclosing it at the outer extremity, as is the usual construction with hinged hasps, is turned upward and backward, as shown in Fig. 2, so that the extremity of the loop is never below the staple in such a way as to engage the lower side thereof and interfere with lifting the cover, and hence no hinge is required to disengage the hasp from the staple, since even if .the hasp should be too long and should strike against the staple it would strike the edge of the curve and would not be detained thereby, but would slide over it without catching. Hence if the box were unlocked the cover could be raised without irst adjusting the hasp.

The hasp need not touch the box at all, and hence there is no danger of its freezing tightly to it, as often occurs with the dat hasp.

A perforation 9 in the lower edge of the staple can be employed to afford a fasteningpoint for a chain for the padlock, so that the carrier need not be afraid to drop the padlock for fear of losing time in regaining it from the ground. Since in rural delivery the carrier rides or drives, all apparatus should be made as convenient and accessible for him as possible, so as to economize his time.

At l0, Fig. 44f, is seen a protecting-shield for the hasp and lock, which will prevent rain from entering the working parts and forming ice in them in winter, which causes considerable inconvenience and delay. This shield can be an extension of the strengthening* plate 6, before mentioned.

This hasp aifords a neat, durable, and ef'ticient fastening device wherever a padlock can be employed.

It will be seen that the loopof the hasp rests upon the top of the staple instead of engagL ing the lower side, as in the usual form, so that when riding by the box the carrier, can raise the cover at once with one hand while ing the time required to first swing the hinged Ico the sides of which pass one on each side of the staple, and the looped extremity being turned upward to engage the upper edge of r 5 the staple substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ASA L. WESTON.

Witnesses:

GEO. O. WILLET, WM. M. MONROE. 

